When deciding where to cut the A pillar for the door opening, is it purely aesthetics, or is there a technical reason? I've seen it done numerous ways, but I'm planning on making my opening follow the line of the doors like the Hirohata and the Litton Ford.... Of course there are other options... And I guess if I got really silly, I could thin out the pillars like this guy... But at this point, I'm planning on keeping the pillars "stock" size and radiusing the bottom corner. I'm also planning on running vent windows and keeping my drip rails, if it matters. Any feedback is appreciated. Bryan
I like the Hirohata pillars, looks like it was from the factory that way. My two cents, as usual the car looks good Bryan.
I agree with following the door line. That's the whole idea when it comes to customs improving the lines, like the first two cars. And like Goonz said "looks like it was from the factory that way". As for the 3rd 'GG' car, wow I don't know what to say, that's one interesting cut.
It is an interesting cut, I don't hate it, but following the doorline does look better. I think the cut in the pictue below that one is more interesting. Why not just follow the door line on that one? The step looks out of place to me.
Thanks guys. One of the things that happens when you cut across the line of door is that you leave a coat hook at the A pillar when the door's open. Personally, I don't think it's a big deal, especially when running vent windows....some don't like it, though. Anyone else have any input? Other examples? Bryan
if I were going to hardtop a coupe I'd either use hard top doors and vent windows or modify the original coupe doors to as closely resemble that look as I can. of the photos posted the Hirohata Merc looks best in my opinion, But I'd rather see the front of the vent widow go to a point and meet the door/windshield post better rather than having that little hook looking thing hanging in the breeze I figure a person could spend more time making roll up gl*** that has a proper seal in a hardtopped car than it took to actually do the chop.
Hey Mike, you don't happen to have any, do ya? I've been searching for a while.... I actually wanted to use the entire windshield surround from a HT as well as the flippers and quarter window seals,,,but at that point, I might as well just swapped the whole top!! Yep. I have several friends with hard topped cars, some with side gl*** some without. We all agree, it is a ****LOAD of work. But,,,a ****LOAD of work is what it takes sometimes.....and it WILL have gl***... Anyhow, there are more options...like this one Choprods did..... And of course there are people who cringe at the thought of no radius at the A pillars or the C pillars...and yet the Litton Ford and the Matranga look so good with the sharp corners... Bryan
I don't have any hardtop doors. they are hard to find. I search for 49-52 stuff all the time and have only come up with 2 hardtop doors in my searches. found them at Turlock for cheap and sold them for big bucks on ebay.. like 200 each just for shells and no windows or vents. these had some good metal though.
For me, it was so that when I opened the door & the wing window/frame comes with it, the leading edge of the wing window/frame needs to clear the trailing edge of the A pillar. Since the lower edge of the wing window frame curves back into the door, that meant that the part of the door you are talking about needed to have a step up to get it to a place in wing window frame that is before the section that curves back into the door. The shape of the curve was made to match the curves of other parts of the car. If that makes any sense at all.
p.s The wing windows were open when I took the photos, that is why there is a weird looking gap there. It all actually seals up nice when everything is closed and does not whistle when going down the road.
He hasn´t made the A pillars thinner - he´s just not made them thicker by welding the doors window frame to the A pillar at the front. He´s tapered it out into the roof instead. Looks good to me.
Wow....thank you guys for all the great feedback. Twochops....nice work. And James, that's basically what I was saying. It think it looks pretty good, and better with the vent windows. I think I've got it, and that's how I plan to have mine function as well. Am I correct to ***ume that there's an L shaped piece behind the vent window and the door tops where the seal is installed? I'm not quite ready to make those pieces, but I'm trying to make a plan for the seals now so that I don't create too much work later... I wouldn't expect any less from a perfectionist... That car RULES me. And here's where I'm at now...the door top isn't welded to the top yet, so that's why the gap is off. Thanks again for the input and the pics...keep it coming. Bryan
The car be looking good Bryan. Yes, since I welded the old door tops into the roof, it left a channel there (that the old window used to roll up into) and I filled that channel with a rubber molding that is L shaped. The wing/window frames now close against that L shaped rubber to seal everything up. Come on by and have a look at how it all goes together. It's easier than trying to imagine it.
Bryan i'm starting my chop tomarrow!!!!!! Hard tops always look a little funny to me they are hard to pull off. But running a wing window is a must in my book and add to the m*** of the A piller they are to thin. Good luck keep us posted. Also I for got about your plates so I will get on that next week. Scott
I do the a pillars 2 different ways depending on if you are going to keep a front vent window or not. If you are keeping them cut the door flat at the belt line and make the whole front side removable simular to early converts. If you are going 1 pice side gl*** make the cut about 1.75" above the belt line. It also makes a nice place to mount a side mirror that moves with the door.
Yeah, I like the way it looks when people do that - it gives it a nice 'early style' look. On mine, I wanted to keep the curved double body line all the way around the side window opening, so I couldn't bring it to a point like that.
Bryan, are you going to build chrome frames that the gl*** rolls up & down inside of, like the Hirohata, or are you going with 'frameless' gl***? Or...are you going to have a frame attached to the gl*** that rolls up & down along with the gl***?
The bulk of retaining the wing window definitely helps correct the problem. I guess I am referring to when people delete the wing window and don't weld the old door tops into the roof. It makes the A pillar look too thin and also the window opening too square in profile, which reminds me of a more modern style of customs. The car you show definitely does not look too modern, it is a favorite of mine.
You did it right for the style of your car. Thats my opion it looks great. Did this 41 merc simular. It does have working vent windows simular to your's but at this monent i can not find the pics
cletus, are your windows framed like the matranga, or arey roll up like a true hardtop? I'm wanting to do the matranga style on my 56(not welding doortops on)...
My initial plan was to have the frames roll down into the doors. The photoshop I sent you didn't have vent windows and I recall you saying you thought they'd be better setup like a true hard top. But with the addition of the vent windows (and after seeing how good yours look), I wouldn't be opposed to having them stationary. We'll have to re-hash that conversation when I drop by. Oh man, I can't wait to see that one!! And congrats....I saw a pic of the '56 in the winners' circle at SM...you must've finally busted out the mirrors for the ch***is...haha. Bryan
Bryan... the work on your Chevy looks great. More photos of Cleatus his fantastic Chevy that I took at the Sacramento autorama... What a great car. Approved by the master himself!!!
I understand what you mean, but it reminded me of an old rendering from Harry Bradley (IIRC). I think its an interesting look.
Bryan good talkin with ya at Poli's Barber shop. I had already seen this thread went back to it just now, checked out your roof My opinion is it looks right! I am kinda tired of the heavily chopped cars yours has a good overall flow to it I give it 2 thumbs up! Your plans for it sounded good to me as well. Later Dave
Thanks everyone for the good words and advice...this thread has been a huge help! Thanks Dave, good talkin' to ya too...and that Merc,,,err...Hudson of yours is a knockout. Seriously, stellar metal work. I'll be in touch. Later, Bryan
The Jalopy Journal
